Bill Mitchell’s 60-plus years as a proud PGA Member featured a career that ranged from greenkeeping and running the bar at a club in the Scottish Highlands to coaching stars from the worlds of golf, sport and show business at a five-star hotel in Surrey.
Born and raised in Grantown, Scotland, Bill excelled at billiards from an early age. And it was a talent that genuinely lasted him a lifetime: he won the Grantown Billiards & Snooker Club Championship at the age of 19 and again at 89.
The seeds of his passion for golf had been sown prior to that first success on the green baize, however. Elma, his elder sister, was having golf lessons and 11-year-old Bill wanted to know every detail. Then, having inherited a set of clubs from a family friend, Bill put into practice what he had been told.
He proved as accomplished with a golf club in his hand as he was with a billiards cue but several years would pass before he could convert his talents as a golfer and an astute businessman into a career.
His burgeoning love for the game was fuelled by a visit to Grantown by Bobby Cruickshank, the Scottish golfer who competed primarily in the USA and was twice runner up in the US Open.
Cruickshank, who was born in Grantown, arrived in a big car and gave an exhibition of bunker shots while wearing a dinner suit and dress shoes.
Bill, aged 15, left school shortly afterwards and a rich assortment of jobs followed, including those of postman, projectionist at his local cinema and short-term work for the Ordnance Survey. The onset of his golfing career was further delayed by National Service with the RAF, firstly in England and Wales followed by a spell in Karachi, Pakistan, from 1953-54, where he carried out aircraft maintenance.
Back in Civvy Street, Bill married Judy and worked on the hydro-schemes in Perthshire, setting the explosives charges. Then in 1963, the chance to take on the role of greenkeeper, professional and barman at Killin Golf Club gave his golfing journey lift off.
Bill joined the PGA in the same year and was elected to Membership in 1968, by which time his two children, Anne and Stuart, had been born and the family had moved to England.
Firstly, he reprised his role of greenkeeper, coach, running the pro shop and bar at Harwich & Dovercourt Golf Club in Essex before being appointed head professional at The Addington Golf Club in Surrey.
It was here that Bill, who was 6 foot and 6 inches tall, formed a little and large longstanding friendship and golfing partnership with Ronnie Corbett, the comedian who was some 17 inches smaller.
The opportunity to rub shoulders with even more stars, especially from the golfing fraternity, was afforded Bill when he moved to nearby Selsdon Park in 1972 to succeed Harry Weetman following his sudden death due to a car accident.
In addition to its golf course, Selsdon Park boasted a five-star hotel that, internationally renowned, was the natural choice to house both teams contesting the 1981 Ryder Cup at nearby Walton Heath.
“The USA team was possibly the strongest ever assembled as it included nine major winners,” recalled Stuart Mitchell, who works for England Golf.
“At one point the entire USA team was in Dad’s shop at the same time after they’d arrived on Concorde: Ben Crenshaw, Ray Floyd, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Bruce Lietzke, Johnny Miller, Larry Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Jerry Pate, Bill Rogers, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.
“European team members included Nick Faldo, Bernard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Peter Oosterhuis and Sam Torrance.
“Dad gave the players’ wives and families his personal attention to make sure they had an enjoyable time - arranging shopping and historical tours for them and receiving a personal letter from Jack Nicklaus thanking him for his kindness afterwards.”
The hotel was also patronised by football teams, especially before the FA Cup final. Furthermore, it earned a reputation as a ‘lucky’ hotel for finalists – second division Sunderland stayed there in 1973 before defeating cup holders Leeds United.
And Southampton followed suit against star-studded Manchester United three years later when Bill enjoyed the full cup final experience - not only was he given a ticket for the game, he travelled to Wembley on the team coach.
“A few of the footballers, would play golf during their stay and Dad would get to know them,” Stuart Mitchell explained. “Laurie McMenemy, the Southampton manager, was in the shop and asked Dad if he’d be watching the final and, if so, would he like a ticket as they had some spare. Not only that, Dad was invited to travel with the team on the bus to Wembley.”
Bill captained the Surrey PGA during his 17 years at Selsdon Park, was responsible for designing two courses in Scotland – the original at Craggan and Aigas Golf Club – and another at Kitzbühel Golf Club in Austria.
He also earned an enviable reputation as a coach of players of all abilities – from beginners to major champions.
“He gave Tony Jacklin a putting lesson shortly before Tony’s last ever European Tour win in 1982,” Stuart Mitchell continued. “And he lent Tony the putter that he used to win it. It was a long time - in fact decades - before Dad got it back!”
Torrance was another Tour player who sought Bill’s advice; on other occasions, he hosted golfing legends Sir Henry Cotton and Seve Ballesteros.
In addition to helping established stars, Bill could spot up and coming ones, not least his compatriot Robert MacIntyre whom he described ‘as one to watch’ when the future Ryder Cup player was in his teens.
Bill returned Grantown in 1989 and, although semi-retired, was attached to Grantown on Spey Golf Club for the rest of his life. He was made an Honorary PGA Member and following the passing of Judy in 1997 after 40 years of marriage, Bill married Morven Macgregor.
The couple met through golf and went on to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary last year. Other celebrations included Bill clocking up a half century of trips to the Open Championship and his 90th birthday, the highlight of which was a recorded video message from the then PGA Captain, Peter Laugher. Bill also continued playing golf until a couple of months before his passing and, had it not been for inclement weather and the use of buggies allowed, it’s likely he would have done so for even longer.
Bill, who was pre-deceased by Judy, is survived by Morven, daughter Anne and son Stuart, stepchildren Rona and Donald, grandchildren Catherine, Amy, William, Jack, George, Vaila, and Cara, and great grandchildren Oliver, Robyn, Fred, Chloe, Rory, Reuben, and Elijah. The PGA extends heartfelt condolences to them on their loss.
